One of ScottishPower Renewables’ leading directors has gained a place on the international Women’s Power List for her achievements and influence in the renewables industry.

Lindsay McQuade, director of policy and innovation, earnt a position on the prestigious list, published on March 7th by wind industry intelligence service, a Word About Wind. The list promotes and celebrates the contributions of female deal-makers and power brokers shaping the wind industry’s development.

Lindsay leads ScottishPower Renewables’ engagement with the government, regulators and key stakeholders on topics such as energy economics, energy policy, grid, regulation and aviation. She led the contribution from the renewables industry in helping to shape the Contracts for Difference mechanism to ensure a workable and investable framework. She also played a key role in securing a contract for the £2.5bn East Anglia ONE windfarm project.

The report is the first of its kind, with rankings compiled by A Word About Wind’s editorial team in collaboration with a senior advisory board. The list was officially launched at a breakfast event in London on March 7th to coincide with International Women’s Day today.

Lindsay, who lives in Glasgow and attended the launch event, was ranked 89th on the list of 100 of the most powerful women from across the world currently working in the wind industry.

Lindsay, who joined ScottishPower Renewables in 2006, said: “It is a great privilege for me to be included on the Power List.

“It is important that women’s contributions to the wind sector are recognised and celebrated in this way.”

"It goes without saying that women play an absolutely key role within the renewables industry.

"This power list plays an important part in highlighting the achievements and influence these women have – and hopefully encourages more women to follow in their footsteps."

Two other exceptional women from ScottishPower Renewables’ parent company, Iberdrola, also feature on the list. These are Ángeles Santamaría Martin, director of Iberia and International at Iberdrola and Laura Beane, vice president of operations and management services at Avangrid Renewables (Iberdrola’s US subsidiary).

Emma Pinchbeck, RenewableUK’s executive director, added: "The UK is one of the leading performers in the rankings, which is an encouraging sign that our industry is becoming more inclusive.

"We need to ensure that women across the country see wind energy as an open and attractive industry to work in. This means promoting renewable skills and opportunities to a new generation of women entering the workforce."

About East Anglia ONE: East Anglia ONE will see 102 wind turbines installed in the southern North Sea, approx. 26 miles off the coast. The overall investment will be in the region of £2.5 billion, and the project is planned to meet the annual electricity demands of the equivalent of 500,000 homes. Construction is planned to commence in 2017, with the first turbines installed by 2019, and hopes that the project will be fully operational during 2020.

About Iberdrola: With over 170 years of experience, Iberdrola is one of the largest electricity utilities in the world and a benchmark for renewable energies. The company produces and supplies electricity to around 100 million people. The company has also positioned itself as a leader in clean energies – Iberdrola is the top renewable producer in Europe and the USA. Its subsidiary companies include ScottishPower Renewables, which is responsible for progressing Iberdrola’s onshore windfarms in the UK and offshore windfarms throughout the world and Avangrid Renewables, the second-largest provider of clean, renewable wind power in the US.

About A Word About Wind: Founded in 2012, A Word About Wind is a membership organisation that provides intelligence, insight and connections to senior industry decision makers. Through a programme of reports and industry analysis, together with networking initiatives and events, it strives to influence, educate and inform the people that drive and shape international wind energy. For further information, visit www.awordaboutwind.com